Perspectives on Youth and Governance Symposium

1. Perspectives on Youth and GovernanceBy Muzwakhe Alfred SigudhlaPresident SADC Youth Movement,Coordinator NEPAD Youth Summit 2005“On the Occasion of ADFIV on Youth and Governance Symposium”10-15 October 2004, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSADC YM "Expanding the world of possibility for young people"SADC Youth Movement Regional Secretariat21 Lynwood Road, Building NO4-ROOM 2-25South Campus,University of PretoriaPretoria 002South AfricaTel: +2712 420 4241Fax: +2712 420 4491Mobile: +2772 4440507e-mail: sadcyouth@yahoo.com / sigudla2000@yahoo.com

2. Quote When our children are assured of survival and health, provided with a good education, protected from war and violence, and when youth participate in the democracy and development of their countries, then Africa will be set to claim the 21st century” – K Y Amoako

3. Overview and Introduction • Global attention on terrorism replacing Social Agenda The global threat of terrorism has diverted and resources should directed toward training youth in their respective organizations as the next generation of leaders so as to prevent the social issues that are providing fertile ground for instability. • Young people the corner stone of Africa’s Development According to the African Common Position, Para 6, “We recognize that the future of Africa lies with the well being of its children and youth. The prospect for the socio-economic transformation of the continent rests with investing in the young people of the continent. Today’s investment in children is tomorrow’s peace, stability, security, democracy and sustainable development.”

4. Background on Global Status • Youth between the age 15-24 amount to 1.1 billion and constitute 18% percent global population and together with the one below age 24 amount to 40 percent of global population • 133 Million Youth remain illiterate in the world • Youth constitute 41 percent of the world unemployed • 238 million youth live on less than $1 per • 7000 young become infected with daily, girls and young women most victims • There are more than 300 000 child soldiers in World today Despite UN recognition that youth should are valuable resource for advancement communities National Youth Policies have not yet responded fundamental Youth issues in Africa

5. Defining Youth • Youth, as a concept, varies from culture to culture and from one society to another. For the purpose of this meeting, youth is a special phase of life between childhood and adulthood ranging from the age 15-35

6. Promoting Democracy and Good Governance • The notion of good governance and democracy is center-stage for development. Good Governance has broad principles such as follows: • Transparency • Accountability • Inclusively • Fiscal responsibility • Good Leadership • Respect for Human Rights and Rule of Law • Democracy and Fair competition for public office • On going stakeholder participation

7. Millennium Development Goals • “As put by the UN Secretary General: “The lesson of the last decade is that it is not enough for leaders to promise something, even when the resources are available to back it up, unless the whole of society is mobilised to achieve the goal……The most striking advances towards the goals of the World Summit for Children …were achieved through this combination of strong partnerships and sustained political commitment, involving the broadest possible range of people” (We, the Children, page 95).

8. Youth Participation • The participation of young people in decision making process in the continent is at the heart of social and political discourse. The notion of Good governance is located within the broad principles that all stakeholders’ participation is required in Decision- making and Governance. In most African Countries, Youth constitute a majority of electoral voters, however, the legislative parliaments have less than one (1) percent youth participation as MP’s. Young people continue to be subdued and relegated to Youth wing of political parties and have been used as agents to amass political power,

9. Policy Gap • The analysis of challenges facing African Youth are summarized as • Lack of Coordination of Youth Policy in Africa • Lack of African Youth Charter • Slow ratification of International Instruments to deal with Youth issues • Lack of Political will to involve Youth on policy formulation

10. Challenges facing Youth Movement in Africa • The challenges facing the African Youth Movements are summarized as follows: • Poor lobbying and Advocacy Skills • Lack of political space for participation • Fragmentation and lack coordination • Shortage of Financial and Human resources • Poor Leadership and organizational disciple • Lack of Platform for exchange of best practices • Lack of credible continental organization • Lack acknowledgement of Youth Work • Competition Adult lead NGO’s doing Youth Work

11. Legal Instruments for assessing Commitments made for Youth • UN World Programme of Action to year 2000 and Beyond , Adopted 1995 • ECCOSOC of AU Adopted June 2004, Addis Ababa • Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) • National Action Plans for Youth Employment (YEN) ILO • APRM Adopted 2003, June Maputo • Johannesburg Plan of Implementation • Dakar Employment Strategy ( World Youth Forum of UN 6 to 10 August 2001) • Braga Youth Action Plan • Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes, Adopted World Ministers responsible for Youth, 12 August 1998 • Resolution Pan African Youth Movement , October 2003, Namibia

12. NEPAD Youth Summit 2005 • The NEPAD Youth Summit being organized to launch a broad youth social movement in 2005, is intended to be an outcome based event to promote youth participation in the implementation and monitoring of NEPAD at country level. It is expected that the NEPAD Youth Summit framework will develop a programme to compliment AU and NEPAD and the Youth will also develop social outreach programmes to stimulate national and regional dialogue on NEPAD.

13. African Youth Charter • As regional mechanism for youth development • To facilitate better coordination of youth affairs in Africa including all international instruments • Provide quota systems for participation • African Youth Charter should be led by youth movements

14. Conclusion The ADF IV on Youth and Governance should respond how to: • Stimulate a dialogue on governance issues by emphasizing the important role that youth can play in addressing corruptions at all level • Encourage youth to demand accountability and concrete actions from their governments to address Youth unemployment • Encourage youth to participate in development which is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and ultimately changing entire societies • Help create network of knowledge sharing and learning on Good Governance and anti-corruption issues among the youth by encouraging the use of the web to develop new forms of social and global citizenship

15. Recommendations The ADFIV Youth and Governance should then come out with toolkit that will be utilized in understanding Good Governance and will trigger action after ADFIV. This booklet should include the following: • Understanding Good Governance • Corruption: definition issues and cost • Causes of corruption • Responses to corruption the role of Media and Parliaments • The Role of the Youth on Good Governance • Collective and individual Action Plans on Governance • Learning Approach and Process